Well, here we are again.  One year ending and a new one about to begin.  In fact it already has in some parts of the world.  I was eating lunch when the sound of celebrations came over the airwaves from Auckland, New Zealand.  Although there are a few hours still to go here in England I wanted to get 2013 off to a good start.  I haven't made any resolutions as such but I have put a New Year Contest on my website.  There's a chance to win a copy of my new book, The Caged Countess, which comes out on the 1st January.  All you have to do is answer a simple question correctly and you're in with a chance.

In the meantime, if you're partying tonight, I hope you have a great time, and wish you all a happy and prosperous 2013.

Joanna's Day

My contest for the Advent Calendar is up and running so be sure to get your entry in.  You could win a beautiful Blue John pendant.  This rare and highly prized semi-precious stone is found only here in the Peak District.  I chose it for that reason, wanting to offer something that had a strong and unique Derbyshire connection.   That thought seems to have resonated with quite a few people so thanks for the positive feedback, folks.  More details about this giveaway can be found on my website.

Meanwhile, I have been attempting to get to grips with Christmas.  Usually this means a last-minute panic but this time I have actually started early.  Early for me, that is.  Everything is relative.  The price of postage has rocketed though so I've resorted to emails instead of putting bulky letters in cards.  A lot of people are doing the same, especially those who live overseas.  Otherwise we'd require a small mortgage just to post a handful of mail.

Alongside this is the novel I'm trying to finish and author amendments for another story.  By the time I get that lot done I'll be ready for a few days off.  With that thought in mind I'll get back to work.

Going Over the Tops

The Harlequin Historical Authors Advent Calender has got off to a flying start this year.  Thanks to everyone who has supported us so far.  Keep checking each day for details of the different contests you can enter.  Don't forget, my day is the 6th December.  Answer a simple question and you could win a beautiful Blue John pendant.  More details can be found on my website.

I went over to Castleton recently in order to collect the prize for this contest.  For those of you who aren't locals, Blue John is a rare semi-precious stone unique to the Peak District of Derbyshire.  It is highly-prized and has been mined here since Roman times. 

The drive over the tops to Castleton is truly scenic and I'd chosen a beautiful day to do it, but it was also perishing cold.  I really regretted not wearing my thermals.  On the plus side it was a good excuse to visit a tea shop and warm up a bit.  While I was there I took some pics as well.  Mam Tor and Peverell Castle certainly looked dramatic in the late afternoon light.  Take a look and get a flavour of the place. 



 




Lift Off!

The Harlequin Historical Authors Advent Calendar is now up and running.  Follow the link on the home page of my website.  You could be a couple of clicks away from winning a prize.  Good luck and enjoy.

One Day To Go!

There's just one day left before the Harlequin Historical Authors Advent Calendar goes live.  Don't miss out on your chance to win one (or more) of our great daily giveaways.  Remember, all entries will also be entered for the Grand Draw at the end of the contest which means you could win a Kindle Fire HD.  The more times you enter the better your chances of winning.  The relevant links will be posted on this blog.

My day on the Advent Calendar is the 6th December.  Look out for more details here.

In the meantime, I'd like to say thanks to my writing buddies in the novelists' group for their critical insights yesterday evening.  It's always much appreciated.  Writers get so close to their work that they don't always see it.  That sounds like a paradox but it's true.  Getting fresh insights to the process is invaluable.  I can't believe I actually used the same word ten times on one page and didn't even notice! (My former record for this was five.) My excuse is that it was only a first draft.  Sounds better than 'Joanna's losing the plot' though.

While I've been slaving over a hot keyboard my lovely husband has spring cleaned (autumn cleaned?) the kitchen and done the hoovering.  He's done a wonderful job too.  He's always been a practical sort of bloke who can fix leaking pipes and mend boilers, but that kind of quiet domestic support really means a lot.  He's a good cook as well.  And before anyone asks, no, I certainly wouldn't swap him.

Okay, it's back to the Dark Ages for me.  My heroine is in a spot of bother and needs rescuing.  Cue for entry of gorgeous hero...

Two Days to Go!

On the 28th November the Harlequin Historical Authors Advent Calendar goes live.  That means you have the chance to win a giveaway every day from then until the 24th December.  Don't forget there's also a Grand Draw at the end of the contest giving you an opportunity to win a Kindle Fire HD.  I'll post the links on this blog.  My part of this contest will be on the 6th December.  Details will be posted here later so look out for those.

Meanwhile, the rain, wind and cold have provided good reasons for staying indoors and working on the latest book.  Well, that a looming deadline of course.  I'm about halfway through the story at the moment.  This one is proving great fun to write.  I always say that, until I run into a plot wall. Touch wood, it hasn't happened this time and so I've been able to immerse myself in 9th Century Norway without any such annoyances.

I did take time out on Saturday morning to go over to Bakewell for a couple of hours.  Apart from the fact that it's one of my favourite local places, the monthly Farmers' Market was on.  The Christmas Market was an added bonus. I didn't realise it was taking place until I arrived.  It was good to see the town so busy, and the atmosphere was great.  Even though it was perishing cold the stallholders somehow managed to keep smiling. The lovely lady on the pashmina stall said that the secret was to wear Artic-quality thermals because they work in Derbyshire as well.  Must bear that in mind.  Anyway, I treated myself to a few goodies as well as doing a bit of Christmas shopping.  Maybe I'll avoid the usual last-minute panic this year.  Ever the optimist.

Last but not least, I want to wish my friend and writing buddy, Leonie Martin, a very happy birthday today.  Have a good one, Leonie!

Coming Soon: the Advent Calendar Competition

Once again, in keeping with the spirit of the festive season, some of the authors of Harlequin Historicals are participating in an Advent Calendar Competition.  Each day will see a new contest that you can enter.  Nothing deep or difficult here, folks; the emphasis is on having fun.  Each day sees a new giveaway.  Finally there will be a Grand Draw and one lucky person will win a Kindle Fire HD.  So, the more times you enter the calendar contest the greater your chances of winning.  The competition starts on the 28th November and runs until the 24th December.  Links will be posted here so that you can access the calendar and the rules of the competition.  Remember, you have to be in it to win it.

Just to whet your appetite, here's a sneak preview.

A Journey Back in Time

Dark Age Warrior

Writers are always looking for inspiration and to broaden their knowledge.  For those of us who write historical novels that’s crucial. As my work is divided between the Regency Period and the Dark Ages/Early Medieval Era I’m keen to increase my understanding of both.

For that reason I’ve just been to the Staffordshire Hoard Exhibition in Stoke.  It had been on the must-see list ever since the discovery was announced in 2009.  Not only that, Stoke is only about an hour’s drive away.  No excuse then for not putting time aside to go and take a look.

It was well worth the effort.  The Staffordshire Potteries Museum is an attractive modern building, and the staff members whom I met were all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.  Admission is free but visitors are invited to make a donation if they wish.  The building has lifts as well as stairs so access is easy, and there is also a café selling a range of drinks, snacks and light meals. The museum has several exhibition rooms and display areas.

The Hoard Exhibition is well laid out and, as well as the usual explanatory written material, there's an excellent video to watch.  Of course, it’s the treasure itself which exerts the greatest fascination.  About 250 items are currently on display.  The rest of the collection is still being cleaned and examined in Birmingham.

Folded cross

Quite apart from its importance as a historical source, the hoard intrigues because of the beauty and craftsmanship of the artefacts themselves.  Many are reminiscent of the treasures found at Sutton Hoo.  Unlike the latter though, the Staffordshire Hoard is not associated with the burial of a king.  It’s believed to be battle loot.  Most of the pieces found have a military connection: sword pommels, shield bosses, belt buckles, helmet fragments, harness mountings and so forth.  They date from 650-700AD.  Staffordshire was part of the kingdom of Mercia which, at the time, was going through major political upheaval when armed conflict was frequent.

 

Helmet piece

Who amassed the hoard and hid it will probably never be known, but it seems likely that it happened at a time of crisis.  The individual concerned never returned for his loot so the treasure lay undiscovered in the earth for 1300 years, until Terry Herbert appeared with his metal detector in 2009.  He must have been thrilled when he realised what he’d found, and who can blame him?

 

The Staffordshire Hoard Exhibition will remain in Stoke until September 2013, after which it will go on tour.  That allows plenty of time to check it out if you’re so inclined.  I’d definitely recommend it.

           

Writer In Retreat

For years, the word Retreat has conjured up images of earnest, robe-clad vegans chanting mantras in oak groves and seeking for the meaning of life.  There’s nothing wrong with any of that, it’s just that it didn’t chime with me.  It never occurred to me that one day I might actually volunteer to go on retreat.  Who me?  Perish the thought! 

 

   Enlightenment arrived in the form of a small ad in Writing Magazine: Retreats for Writers. Hmm.  That seemed more promising. At that point I was embarking on a new book and really wanted time and space to get on with it, away from distractions and domestic responsibilities. A writers’ retreat might be a possibility, so I checked it out.  To my relief the only robes mentioned were bathrobes (provided) a vegan diet was entirely optional, chanting likewise and any oak trees were part of the local scenery.  There was no promise of divine revelation either, just the offer of a quiet place to work uninterrupted while being waited on hand and foot.  There had to be a catch.  I checked the tariff.  I blinked and checked it again.  The cost seemed unbelievably modest for what was on offer.  Maybe the website hadn’t been updated for a while. I sent an email to ask.  The tariff was correct.  I sent another email and made a booking.

   That’s how I found myself in rural Devon in the charming village of Sheepwash which, bucking the national trend, boasted a shop and a pub.  The retreat, run by journalist Deborah Dooley and her husband, Bob Cooper, was a lovely old house complete with thatched roof, thick walls and the kind of hearth that would take a Yule log and still leave room to roast a hog.  There were four guest bedrooms, all of which were spacious, clean and comfortable.  All had a kettle and tea/coffee-making facilities, a hairdryer, a bathrobe (see above) and a heater as well as a large work table and easy access to power sockets.  The shared bathroom was immaculate and offered a generous array of bath and beauty products for general use.  There was another bathroom downstairs.  At the back of the house was a garden to sit or work in, weather permitting.

   Guests were free to work where they wished and to be as sociable as they chose.  I opted for the best of both worlds: solitude during the day and socialising in the evenings.  Meals were comprised of delicious home-cooked fare taken in the communal dining room, although I could have opted for a tray in my room instead.  On sunny days we ate lunch in the garden.  A particularly welcome touch was the glass of wine that was brought to my door an hour before dinner each evening.  After that it was up to each person whether they wished to work on, sit and chat, watch TV, go for a walk or visit the pub.  An open fire and large comfy sofas made the sitting room a tempting option and I enjoyed meeting with and talking to my fellow writers.  Deborah was also on hand to give help and advice if required.

   Everything was done to ensure the comfort and convenience of guests.  Be warned though: don’t even think about doing any domestic tasks here.  Any such attempt will be sternly rebuked.  I was caught washing a mug once…

   My six-day stay flew past.  Quite apart from enjoying all the pampering and the peace and quiet, I made real progress on my novel.  I plan to go back as soon as I can manage it.  In fact, I could get very used to the idea of going on retreat.

 For more information see www.retreatsforyou.co.uk